Unstacker



May 21, 1963 G. A. MEAD ETAL UNSTACKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 7, 1961 5 5 m EN wwwa. @m05 0M W .DE 0 AMG m EVM N l/ GC GMG? B May 21, 1963 G. A. MEAD ETAL UNSTACKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1961 5 v m n mwn EEDE s wMoE n /AMG ,r N EUR R uw@ w GIG N May 21, 1963 G. A. MEAD ETAL 3,090,505

UNSTACKER Filed Aug. 7, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .I /NGVALD Dfi/.E GEO/26E E. DAU/5 United States Patent 3,090,505 UNSTACKER Gile A. Mead and Ingvald Dale, Hoquiam, and George E. Davis, Aberdeen, Wash., assignors to Lamb Grays Harbor Co., Inc., Hoquiam, Wash.

Filed Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No.. 129,585 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-85) This invention relates to what herein, and in the industry to which it applies, has been designated as an unstacker. More particularly, the invention relates to the provision of an unstacker characterized by the construction and use therein of a special form of blade for the expeditious dividing and separation of adjacent portions of a stack of paper sheets for the ready removal of the upper divisional portion or section from the stack.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an unstacker employing a blade of the above character that is of substantial length and width; that may be applied to a stack of paper sheets `at a selected level for stack division and which blade is powered by novel means for mechanically facilitating im entry into the stack at the selected level and which blade is channel for the reception therein of air under pressure `and is ported for its discharge therefrom into the stack at the division line as an aid 4for `both the separation and in the removal of that section of the stack that is above the blade from the remaining portion of the stack below it.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an unstacker of the above stated kind wherein the stack dividing blade is of substantial length and is pivotally attached at its outer end to a powered belt, or the like, and which blade has a hand hold member at its opposite or inner end whereby the blade luser may adjust and maintain a desired angularity of the stack dividing blade as it is advanced edgewise by the powered belt and user into and through the stack for its division.

Yet another object of the invention is to equip the blade with swingingly mounted pusher plate that may be adjusted from and into a position whereby the upper portion of a stack, as separated from the lower portion by entry of the blade into and through the stack, may be employed in conjunction with the blade and its powering belt for the displacement of that divisional portion of the stack that is above the blade, from that portion remaining below it.

Yet another object of the invention is to equip the blade, at the hand supported end thereof, with a power controlling switch whereby direction of' ltravel of the blade under influence of the powering motor lfor division of the stack and for subsequent removal of the top section from the lower portion of the stack may be conveniently controlled by the blade user while holding the blade handle.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of its parts and in the mode of use of the device, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and :other objects, I have provided the improved .details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a top or plan view of an unstacker embodied by the present invention with parts broken away to shorten the length of the view, and illustrating its mode of use.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the unstacker as shown in FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing, in larger scale, the stack dividing blade of this invention.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the 'blade showing the conice nection at that end with the blade powering chain belt, this View being taken on line 4--4 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional View of the blade.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

FlG. 7 is a schematic showing of the electrical system of the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In its present preferred form of construction, the stack dividing member of this unstacker, designated in its entirety in FIGS. l and 2 by reference numeral 10, cornprises a substantially flat blade having a length of approximately six feet and a width of approximately one foot as designed for its present use. At its inner end this blade, designated in its entirety by reference numeral 11, is equipped with a handhold member or handle 12 and along its outer end portion is formed with a centrally located and longitudinally extending slot 13 through which a vertical pivot shaft 14 extends, as will presently be more fully explained.

Between its outer and inner end portions, the blade, as shown 'best in cross-section in FIG. 5, has opposite longitudinal edge portions downwardly beveled to thin edges, as designated at 15 and 15 respectively. Also, as has been :shown in FIG. 5, the blade body which as presently made has a thickness of yabout Vs of an inch, is formed with four laterally spaced, longitudinal air channels designated at 16a, 16h, 16C and 16d. Leading from the channels 16a 4and 16d, respectively, to the top sides of the longitudinal beveled edge portions 15-15' of the blade are yair discharge passages 17-17 and likewise opening both upwardly and downwardly from the channels ldb and 16C to the top and- -bottom surfaces of the blade are air ports 18-1S. Likewise, air ports 19 open downwardly from channels 16a and 16d to the bottom surface only of blade. The ports 18-18 and 19, as formed along the blade, are spaced at approximately six inches and open into very shallow, circular depressions 20 formed in the flat top and bottom surfaces of the blade.

The blade 10 is normally disposed flatly for use in a horizontal position 'and is supported at its forward or outer end on a housing 25, to which it is pivoted by the previously mentioned pivot shaft 14. This housing is of rectangular formation, open at its ends and is mounted for travel in opposite direction on a horizontal beam 28, now to be .described more in detail.

In FIG. 6, it has been shown that the beam 28 is of tubular formation and of rectangular cross-section, and it contains therein a continuous chain belt 29 that extends the length of the beam 28 and operates about sprocket wheels 31 and 32 mounted in the opposite end portions of the beam as best shown in FIG. 4.

The beam 28 is supported at its opposite ends by legs or standards 34-35. The lower run of the chain belt 29 is shown in FIG. 4 to be pinned or otherwise joined to triangularly shaped blocks .S6-36 lixed in the housing 25 between the lower edges of its opposite side walls, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, surrounds beam 28. This housing 25 is equipped within its opposite end portions and near the top Wall thereof with a pair of transversely directed horizontal rollers 38-38 which have rolling support on the top wall of the beam 28 as well shown in PIG. 4. Across their lower edges the opposite sidewalls of the housing 25 are joined in rigid spacing by a transverse bolt 40 that passes beneath the beam Z8 and carries a roller 40 in rolling contact with the lower wall portions of beam 28 which is longitudinally slotted to receive and for travel of the lugs 36-36' therein along the beam.

Travel of the chain belt 219 is eifected by a driving belt 41 applied about a belt wheel 42 on the drive shaft 43 aoeasoe of an electric motor 44 and about a belt wheel 45 fixed on the mounting and driving shaft 46 of the sprocket wheel 31 as shown in FIG. 4 to be mounted in that end of beam 28.. The electric motor 44 is shown in FIG. 2 to be mounted on the beam supporting leg or standard 34, and it is supplied with electric current through suitable circuit lines, not shown, and a controlling toggle switch 50 that is mounted on the blade 11 closely adjacent the handle 12 thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Reversal of the switch reverses the motor and this causes reversal in direction of travel of the chain belt 29 thus to move the blade it) either into or from the paper stack accordingly. The toggle switch Sil automatically centers itself in its oli position when released.

'It is further to be explained that to employ the blade 11 for use it is laid across the paper stack as in FIG. 6, with its slotted outer end portion applied over the housing 25 With the vertical pivot pin 14 on the top of -housing 25 projecting upwardly through the blade slot 13. This end of the blade -is yieldably supported by a spiral cushioning spring 51 applied about the pivot member 14- between the top Wall of the housing 2S and lower face of the blade, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The unstacker mechanism 10 as disposed for unstacking, is placed with the horizontal beam 2S extending along the forward side of the stack of paper to be divided; such a stack being designated in FIGS. l, 2 and 4 by reference character S where it is shown to be placed on a hydraulic or air lift 55. Then a control valve 6l) in an air supply line 61 leading to the outer end of the blade, as indicated in FIG. 2, is opened to admit air under the desired or a suitable pressure through a exible pipe line 62 into the four air channels of the blade. Then, with the operator supporting the blade beyond one end of the stack, by means of the handle member 12, hey lifts a corner portion of the stack at the desired plane of stack division, and swings the blade edge 15 into the separation, as has been indicated by the dash line showing of the blade in FIG. 1. I-Ie then closes toggle switch to energize the motor 44 to cause chain belt 29 to advance the outer end of the blade toward the left, in FIG. l, and into the stack While the operator supports and advances its other end, thus the blade is ad-' vanced through the stack to near the opposite side edge thereof and is there adjusted to the position designated in dash lines at iiy in FIG. l. The switch Si)` is then released and its automatic opening stops the motor.

With the stopping of the electric motor 44 and with the blade in position of 16) in FIG. l, the operator then swings the pusher plate with which the blade is equipped, to its functional position. This will now be described.

The pusher plate, as designated best in FIGS. 3 and 4 by reference numeral S6, is at and of substantial length and is shown to be xed rigidly to and to extend along a handle bar 57 that is mounted on and extends lengthwise of the fb-lade. rl'ihe handle bar 57 as therein shown has leg portions '5T-57 at its opposite ends which are pivotally mounted on the top wall of the blade, as at 58-58 and by reason of its swinging mounting the pusher plate 55 can be swung from its inactive position shown Vin dash lines `in FIG. 4 at 56' to its pushing position of FIGS. 2 and 3 and thus located to liatly engage that side edge Wall portion of that section of the paper stack to be lremoved. With the pusher plate 56 disposed in its functional position as shown in `dash lines at the lefthand end in FIG. 1, the reverse travel of the blade is then effected by closing the Atoggle switch Si) toward the right. This reverse travel will cause the plate 56 to push that part of the stack ,above the bladefrom the lower or body portion of the ,stack in accordance with the showing in FiG. 2. With this reverse travel of the blade, as effected at one end by the chain -belt 29, the operator, holding the handle end maintains a like travel ofY that end of the blade thus to eiect the pushing of the upper divisional position of the stack onto a receiving table or belt such as that indicated at 59 in FIG. 2.

It is to be understood that, as the blade 11 enters the stack for stack division and during its movement the discharge of air into the stack from the blade channels and ports will cause the formation of an air pocket or space, at the line of separation, within the stack to practically support the upper section and to permit it to be floated on the entrapped air from the lower portion of the stack with little effort. This air under pressure makes for easy application of the blade to the stack with a minimum of stack distortion. Air pressure employed is adjusted to requirements and is controlled through suitable reducing and relief valves 65-56 located in the air supply system as has been shown best in FIG. 2.

What we claim as new is.

l. An unstacker comprising a stack separation blade adapted to `be advanced ed-gewise into a stack of paper sheets for the removal of that portion of the stack which is above the blade from that portion which is below it, a pusher plate movable with the blade and engageable with an edge portion of the stack above the blade, said pusher plate being pivotably supported for adjustment from a horizontal position substantial-ly above the plane of the blade to a vertical position to serve as a pusher plate for the removal of the upper portion of the stack from the Vlower portion incident tothe return of the `blade to that side of the stack from which it entered.

2. An unstacker according to claim l wherein said stack separation blade is downwardly beveled along its forward and rearward edge portions and is formed with channels for air under pressure and -with air discharge perforations leading lfrom the channels to its topy and under surface of the blade to provide an Aair cushion between those portions of the stack at the plane of their separation by the blade, and means for applying air under pressure to said air channels of the blade.

3. An unstacker `according to claim y1 wherein said blade is .of 4such length as tot extend at its opposite ends beyond the ends of the stack of paper sheets in its application thereto for an unstaching operation, a blade supporting rail extending horizontally along one end of the upper stack for the support of `the corresponding end of the blade thereon during -it-s entrance into the stack and its reverse travel therefrom and a handle at the opposite end of the blade .for its manual support and manipulation during its advancement into -and retraction from the stack and powered means for movement of the rail supported end of the blade.

4. An unstacker according rto claim 3 including a housing mounted for `guided travel along said rail and for support of that end of the blade thereon, a driven belt operable along the rail and connected to said housing for effecting its movement, means on the housing securing that end portion of the blade Ithereon and a reversible driving means lfor said belt.

5. An unst-aclter according to claim 4 wherein said reversble driving means Ifor said belt comprises supporting wheels for said belt at opposite end of said rail, a reversible electric motor -for driving said belt in the advancement of the blade into a stack and for its retraction, an electric circuit for the motor including -a motor direction control switch mounted on the Iblade adjacent the handle portion thereof.

6. An unstacker accor-ding to claim 4 wherein said housing has a pivot pin extending upwardly therefrom and said blade is formed in its rail supported end with a longitudinal slot receiving said pin pivot-ally therethrough and yieldable supporting means for that end of said 'blade is applied about the pin between housing and blade end.

7. An unstacker comprising in combination, a vertically adjustable platform supporting a stack of paper sheets thereon, Ia fixed nail supported horizontally across one end of said stack, a Ahousing supported for travel in '5 1v opposite directions along said rail, belt mounting wheels at opposite ends of the rail, ya belt extended about said Wheels and joined .to said housing, means yfor driving said belt to selectively move the housing in opposite directions, a blade pivotally `supported at one end on said housing and having a handle for its manual support at its opposite end and whereby the blade may be positioned -for entering the stack for separation and removal of that part labove the blade from the part below it, means for driving the belt for the entry and movement of the blade into the stack, a pusher plate mounted by and movable with the blade, across the top of the stack, as the blade moves within the stack, and then adjustable into a pushing position for the removal of that portion of the stack which is above lthe blade with the return travel of the blade to the entering side of the stack, and a table positioned at blade level to receive the removed portion of the stack thereon.

8. An unstacker according to claim 7 wherein the blade is of such length as to extend beyond the ends of the stack and wherein said pusher plate is mounted by a 6 support at its opposite ends pivoted to said blade ends and of suoh length as to support the plate horizontally above the stack `during the 'entering of the blade thereinto, and to swing it -to la vertical pushing position to engage the stack edge after the blade has been fully advanced for stack separation.

9. The unstacker of elaim `8 wherein the blade is Ghanneled [for reception of air under pressure therein and has `air outlet ports opening to its top and under surfaces, and means `is provided for application of air under pressure to said channels.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ;1,246\,592 Harvey Nov. 13, 1917 2,940,616 Reed lune 14, 1960 2,988,236 Shields June 13, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,013,156 Germ-any Aug,`1, 1957 

1. AN UNSTACKER COMPRISING A STACK SEPARATION BLADE ADAPTED TO BE ADVANCED EDGEWISE INTO A STACK OF PAPER SHEETS FOR THE REMOVAL OF THAT PORTION OF THE STACK WHICH IS ABOVE THE BLADE FROM THAT PORTION OF WHICH IS BELOW IT, A PUSHER PLATE MOVABLE WITH THE BLADE AND ENGAGEABLE WITH AN EDGE PORTION OF THE STACK ABOVE THE BLADE, SAID PUSHER PLATE BEING PIVOTABLY SUPPORTED FOR ADJUSTMENT FROM A 